Rehabilitation Liaison - Acute Physical Rehab

Summary:

The Rehab Liaison evaluates and assesses potential candidates and facilitates the admission process for patients appropriate for CHRISTUS St. Vincent Hospital’s Inpatient Rehabilitation Program. This individual also negotiates length of stay with managed care organizations and performs Utilization Review functions. Serves as liaison with local and surrounding communities and providers, enhancing their knowledge and awareness of Rehabilitation Services at St. Vincent. Serves as a rehabilitation consultant, with attention to the clients rehabilitation potential, therapy and functional progress, discharge plan and feasibility, special equipment needs, rehabilitation services across the continuum of care, and care transitions. Serves as contact person for the rehabilitation team, internal admissions team, clients and external sources to enhance outcomes. 

Responsibilities:

• Conducts thorough, timely patient pre-admission assessments for Rehabilitation services, upon referral from within CSV or externally.
• Early identification of candidates and potential clients
• Reviews and analyzes referral information in consultation with Rehabilitation team members and Medical Director, thereby making a collaborative decision regarding the appropriate level of care for the person referred. Must have understanding of admission criteria.
• Serves as liaison with insurance carriers to verify eligibility for services and problem solve as necessary. Secures authorizations prior to admission to the Rehabilitation Unit and collaborates with the social worker during the patient's stay for further authorizations as required.
• Facilitation of benefit eligibility and precertification by payers prior to the rehabilitation admission.
• Screening of clients through on site and /or telephonic assessment and record review in collaboration with healthcare team involved in clients care. Family members or significant others may also be interviewed to obtain accurate information as to pre-morbid functional status, personal interests, cultural considerations, and discharge plans affecting the rehabilitation admission.
• Determination of medical stability, readiness for program participation, and ensuring that services recommended are appropriate, reasonable and necessary. This is done in collaboration with the PMR physician or other licensed treating physician with specialized training and experience in rehabilitation.
• Recommending appropriate level of care and services for clients who are denied admission and providing guidance for clients who may benefit from rehabilitation admission in the future.
• Assumes accountability for outreach activities, including data management and outcomes analysis.
• Communicates effectively and establishes relationships with internal and external referral sources, the person referred and significant others to promote understanding of the services available and appropriate. Includes assessment of expectations, learning needs, and the patients' long term plans, as well as identification of potential barriers or complications. Promotes and smooth transition from one setting to rehabilitation setting.
• Facilitates admission to the Inpatient Rehabilitation Unit as appropriate, utilizing skills to effectively coordinate Unit staff, referring parties, patients, significant others, payers, CSV departments (i.e. Admissions, Business Office), etc.
• Functions as primary marketing and public relations liaison for all Rehabilitation services. Includes development, coordination, and implementation of an effective marketing plan to increase public awareness of the programs and services, thereby facilitating positive attitudes and strengthening bonds with the community.
• Develops written materials, collaborating with the CSV Marketing Department, conducting facility tours, visiting and networking with potential referral sources, representing the facility at community events, conducting or facilitating educational events and in-services for a broad spectrum of customers, and other related activities.
• Educates clients, family members or significant others, referral sources, interdisciplinary team members, external payers, and external case managers about rehabilitation program benefits and services and post acute care services.
• Serves as the Long Term Care liaison and participates in utilization management of those patients as appropriate.
• Remains current and familiar with regulations, standards, and the health care environment relating to rehabilitation levels of care. Includes knowledge of trends in reimbursement, sub-acute care, etc. Maintains a thorough knowledge of rehabilitation settings, post-acute services, acuity trends and outcomes.
• Provides educational material as requested to hospitals, home health agencies, nursing homes, and community organizations. Initiates patient and family orientation, education and tours.
• Serves as a liaison for physicians, nurses, case managers, therapists, etc., regarding inpatient admission process.
• Communicates with physicians from other facilities to promote physician referrals to the program and demonstrates understanding of patient relations and marketing concepts. Collaborates with the marketing department to implement marketing goals related to rehabilitation services.
• Improves professional growth and development  through continued education by attending seminars,  workshops, and studying recent trends in both marketing and health care.
• Maintains an admission/denial log, making recommendations for alternative placement if unable to service the patient in the Continuum of Care.

Requirements:

Licenses/Certifications: 

• Current license in New Mexico as Clinician (Nursing, Occupational Therapist, Physical Therapist, Licensed Independent Social Worker, or Speech Language Pathologist
  

Skills:

• Demonstrated accountability and skills in assessment/evaluation, decision making, time management, and oral and written communication with individuals and groups.
• Must also posses working familiarity with rehabilitation levels of care, as well as with the current managed care environment related to those settings.
  

Experience: 

• Five years of clinical experience, with at least two years in acute rehabilitation setting. It is recommended that the individual also possess at least two years of experience in management or a managed care role. Experience in marketing, public relations, or community education activities preferred. Experience with third party payor requirements, resources and parameters also preferred.

Work Schedule:

PRN

Work Type:

Per Diem As Needed